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There is absolutely no truth to the rumors that SAK is a super-computer being field-tested by the Russian State Security Services for mass brain-washing of programmers to turn them into zombies under remote control.
If you seek to aid everyone that suffers in the galaxy, you will only weaken yourself … and weaken them. It is the internal struggles, when fought and won on their own, that yield the strongest rewards… If you care for others, then dispense with pity and sacrifice and recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles." Darth Traya
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I've listened to a number of productivity experts say you should let go of email, or at the least, don't do email as your first task in the morning.
This advice always comes across, to me, in the same way that people say you shouldn't eat carbs, or you shouldn't watch TV, or you shouldn't eat gluten. Great advice if you put it in context and if it applies to you (ie you're gluten intolerant) but otherwise a pointless and misleading generalisation if applied at face value.
I was just going through my morning email and realised that if I *don't* do my email rounds then I have about a dozen people waiting on me to get back to them, which in turn means there are people waiting on those people etc.
I get that you don't want to be a slave, but when you're in a position where others, as part of due-process, actually require an answer, a confirmation, or even simply an acknowledgment before they move ahead then ignoring email is about the most unproductive and selfish thing possible.
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If I don't do email, then there is every chance that I could miss out on something important from a client. It doesn't look very good to them if I were to say "oh, I don't do email until 2.30" - it's an excellent way for me to miss the email where they say they no longer want our services because we never reply to their emails in a timely fashion.
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Another stupid fad idea by someone who has never had to work in the real world. 
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And yet, to be honest 85% of the mails are unnecessary. To filter out the other 15% ishorrible 
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But you can't just say "85% of this is garbage, so I'll ignore the other 15%".
That would be like throwing all you mail away unread and then complaining you didn't know you had been sent a speeding ticket or a tax refund cheque! 
If you ignore it, it just mounts up, and then it takes even longer to go through it and sort it all out.
Years and years ago, I worked for a small company, and the bosses son did the accounts. He hated that part (can't say I blame him) so he left it until the end of the month. Then it took him a solid week to get it all processed. When I took over as MD, I also took the accounts work: and after a solid two week bash to catch up to where he was, I did the accounts every morning as the post arrived. Took me half an hour a day. So instead of a horrible 40 hour week, I was spending 12 hours a month, and I had a better idea of where we were from day to day.
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I agree with you and of course you are right.
But if the trash increases and increases (fortunately at the moment not exponential) it becomes sometimes really boring to clean up all this rubbish.
(sorry for my english, it is not my native lng).
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idle63 wrote: it becomes sometimes really boring to clean up all this rubbish
It does indeed!
That's one of the reasons I miss Outlook when I use my tablet for email: I have rules set up to sort things into appropriate folders, including "Quarantine" and "Junk" folders so only the good stuff is presented immediately. I have rules to get rid of individuals, domains, and the whole of Russia automatically!
I still have to check them quickly, but I haven't found anything miss filed for a few months now.
Unfortunately this doesn't work on my Nexus 7 and I have to do the filtering myself.
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Don't do simplistic 'don't do' advice.
Not doing email is like not accepting conversation from your colleagues, it means you're missing potentially vital information. What's important is to have a good filter and only give your address to people who need to have it and send appropriate communications, so you don't get swamped.
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Chris Maunder wrote: I've listened to a number of productivity experts say you should let go of email, or at the least, don't do email as your first task in the morning.
Yes, I saw that in my Inbox first thing in the morning and promptly deleted the message. 
/ravi
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In my position going through emails at the morning is a must. The emails should have a huge impact on what I will do next...
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is (V).
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Well, don't take it too literally.
The problem with email first thing in the morning is that people get sucked in to tactical work.
I've gotten to the point where I can come in, start Outlook, look at the subject lines and determine if anything needs doing before shutting it down and getting to work.
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mikepwilson wrote: I've gotten to the point where I can come in, start Outlook, take a long walk, eventually come back, drink some coffee while Outlook is still synchronising, and finally look at the subject lines and determine if anything needs doing before shutting it down and getting to work.
FTFY 
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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email is a form of communication that is required when you work with other people. I agree with OG this guy must never of had a real job!
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Only if you don't work in a Technical Industry, I know from bitter experience that if you work in the Office (paper shuffling industry) you can get away with it.  if you work with people in different time zones.
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But of course, those same productivity experts want you to give them your email address in order for you to download their free eBook on productivity, right?
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I usually wake up and get out of bed as my first task in the morning; then shower, eat breakfast and drive to work. Who does email first?
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Those who dream about it before waking up?
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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I agree.
If you don't do email, you get phone calls - and they are much harder to deal with in your own time.
I think the point it not to necessarily deal with all email - sort it first thing, deal with those things that need to be dealt with immediately, and schedule the rest (responding, usually, that you will deal with it, so you don't get hassled).
I send a lot of replies of the "thanks, I'll look into it and get back to you on Tuesday" variety - and then allocate some time before Tuesday to look into it.
Unfortunately I also send quite a few "Yes, that is a rather amusing photograph of a cat. "
MVVM # - I did it My Way
___________________________________________
Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011
.\\axxx
(That's an 'M')
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Chris Maunder wrote: productivity experts
Now there is a profession I want to know as little about as possible.
I am embarrassed to say that email is the second thing I do in the morning, at least in the office.
Outlook takes so long to open negotiating with the network that the browser is up an running before it unkinks it knickers. So naturally the Lounge get my attention first  And as I'm on the other side of the planet from most of the posters it can be some time to get to the email.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Mycroft Holmes wrote: Outlook takes so long to open negotiating with the network [...]
Seems a rather common problem. I wonder if it's the productivtiy experts telling MS they shouldn't care about Outlook boot times! 
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Doing email is like limbering up my brain.
I get used to sitting down in my hole. I get used to using the PC the company makes me use(not to be confused with the breezy offerings I have built myself at home).
Sometimes if a project has been on my mind all night, I'll come straight in and start a build and then test it, but mostly I have to pace myself. 8 hours is an awfully long time to be working full-on, and if I don't pace myself then by the end of the day I make preventable mistakes that require extended rebuilds, interventions, etc.
Email is a way of resetting work levels and taking a rest.
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It always comes down to: don't fix it if it ain't broken!
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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I normally look at my email only a few times a day.
Sometimes I even shut the outlook app off so it's not open and running.
Managers and supervisors should have some people skills, if they need to get hold of me I have a phone within an arm's length reach and I am normally writing code at my desk and they can easily walk over to my cube and talk to me.
 Just don't be a reactive Pavlovian dog of an employee and you won't have to worry about your productivity.
David
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I agree. It depends on what you do and how you and your customers (internal and external) use the tool. Personally, I've set the expectation that I check email a few times a day. Therefore, they know a response is not going to be immediate.
I deal with important emails by displaying a notification on a high priority message. I've also set that as an expectation and also that if you abuse the high priority flag it will no longer work for you. (I love Outlook rules.)
Personal emails is another story. I tend to jump on them. Well except messages from my ex.
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